Fluid product dispensing device

Abstract

A fluid dispenser device including a fluid dispenser member ( 10 ) such as a pump or a valve, and a dispenser head ( 20 ) provided with a dispensing orifice, the fluid dispenser device is provided with dispensing detector mechanism ( 30, 31 ) for detecting dispensing of a dose of fluid, the detector mechanism ( 30, 31 ) adapted to deliver a signal for informing the user that a dose of fluid has indeed been dispensed by the pump, the detector mechanism including a detector ( 30 ) for detecting the fluid going from the dispenser member to the dispenser orifice.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A fluid dispenser device including a fluid dispenser member ( 10 ) and a dispenser head ( 20 ) provided with a dispensing orifice, said fluid dispenser device being provided with dispensing detector means ( 30 ,  31 ) for detecting dispensing of a dose of fluid, said detector means ( 30 ,  31 ) being adapted to deliver a signal for informing the user that a dose of fluid has indeed been dispensed, said detector means comprising a detector ( 30 ) for detecting the fluid going from said dispenser member to said dispenser orifice, wherein said detector ( 30 ) comprises a piezoelectric material; and
 wherein said detector means are disposed in a sleeve co-operating at one end with said dispenser member and at the other end with said dispenser head; and 
 said sleeve is made up of two portions engaged one on and surrounding at least in part the other, said detector means being disposed between said two sleeve portions, such that one sleeve portion contacts the dispenser member and not the dispenser head and the other sleeve portion contacts the dispenser head and not the dispenser member; 
 wherein the detector is tubular and surrounds an inner surface of the sleeve; wherein one of the two sleeve portions is radially outside the detector and the other of the two sleeve portions is radially inside the detector; and wherein the fluid dispenser member is a pump or a valve. 
 
     
     
       2. A device according to  claim 1 , in which the dispenser member ( 10 ) is connected to the dispensing orifice ( 40 ) via an expulsion channel ( 50 ), said detector means ( 30 ,  31 ) being provided in said expulsion channel ( 50 ). 
     
     
       3. A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the detector comprises a PVDF tube and in which said PVDF tube is disposed around a portion of said expulsion channel ( 50 ). 
     
     
       4. A device according to  claim 1 , in which said detector ( 30 ) is a dynamic pressure detector. 
     
     
       5. A device according to  claim 1 , in which said detector ( 30 ) comprises polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). 
     
     
       6. A device according to  claim 1 , in which said detector ( 30 ) comprises a PVDF tube operating in a breathing mode. 
     
     
       7. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein fluid dispenser member comprises a valve and in which said sleeve ( 40 ) is engaged around a valve member of the valve, or around an actuating rod of the dispenser member. 
     
     
       8. A device according to  claim 1 , in which said detector means ( 30 ,  31 ) are connected to electronic means ( 60 ) for processing the signals delivered by said detector means ( 30 ,  31 ). 
     
     
       9. A device according to  claim 1 , in which said detector means ( 30 ,  31 ) are adapted to increment or to decrement a dose counter. 
     
     
       10. A device according to  claim 1 , in which said dispenser member is a pump ( 10 ) and said detector means ( 30 ) informs the user every time a dose of fluid is dispensed. 
     
     
       11. A device according to  claim 1 , in which said dispenser member is a metering valve ( 10 ) operating with a propellant gas. 
     
     
       12. A fluid dispenser device, comprising:
 a fluid dispenser member; and 
 a dispenser head provided with a dispensing orifice; 
 the fluid dispenser device comprises a detector that detects a dose of fluid going from the dispenser member to the dispenser orifice, the detector delivers a signal that informs the user that a dose of fluid has been dispensed by the dispenser member, the detector comprising a piezoelectric material; and 
 wherein the detector is disposed in a sleeve comprised of two sleeve portions coupled together, one sleeve portion surrounding at least in part the other; wherein one sleeve portion forms a fluid coupling with the dispenser member and the other sleeve portion forming a fluid coupling with the dispenser head, the detector located between the two sleeve portions; wherein one of the two sleeve portions contacts the dispenser member and not the dispenser head and the other of the two sleeve portions contacts the dispenser head not the dispenser member; wherein the detector is tubular and surrounds an inner surface of the sleeve; wherein one of the two sleeve portions is radially outside the detector and the other of the two sleeve portions is radially inside the detector; and wherein the fluid dispenser member is a pump or a valve. 
 
     
     
       13. The fluid dispenser device according to  claim 12 , wherein in the two sleeve portions overlap over a substantial axial length of the sleeve. 
     
     
       14. The fluid dispenser device according to  claim 12 , wherein the sleeve portion that forms the fluid coupling with the dispenser member extends axially at one end beyond the sleeve portion forming the fluid coupling with the dispenser head, and wherein the sleeve portion forming the fluid coupling with the dispenser head extends axially at one end beyond the sleeve portion that forms the fluid coupling with the dispenser member.